A talented Lady Blue Devils team welcomes new coach, same philosophy
WYNOT — The more things change, the more they stay the same.
For instance, there will still be a Wieseler coaching on the bench for the Wynot Lady Blue Devils volleyball team just as there has been since around 2004. However the coach’s name is not Tammy Wieseler; it is Tristan, and Tristan will not be seated in the head chair, but will be an assistant to new Wynot coach Sydney Messersmith.
“I had mentored under Tammy for the last two seasons,” Messersmith said. “She does things the right way. She has been very successful. I don’t plan changing things much.”
The Lady Blue Devils posted a 21-11 record in 2022 and, according to their coach, have plenty of firepower coming back for another successful season.
“We’re going to be relatively small compared to some of the teams we will play,” Messersmith said. “But we will be talented and have great leadership on the court.”
Seven seniors return along with four juniors and two sophomores.
The seniors are Myrah Sudbeck, Annika Heimes, Isabelle Heimes, Kinslee Heimes, Courtney Pinkelman, Kayla Pinkelman and Allison Wieseler.
Joslyn Hochstein, Sophia Green, Eliza Lange and Addison Pinkelman are the juniors and the sophomores are Jaylin Geisen and Kenna Oligmueller.
Three of the players are listed at 5 feet, 11 inches tall, but the balance of the talent is 5-5 to 5-8.
“Like I said, we’re small, but talented,” Messersmith said. “We are scrappy and these girls love to compete.”
And the more things stay the same again, the Lady Blue Devils’ schedule is aggressive.
In addition to the Lewis and Clark Conference slate, Wynot also takes on Boyd County, Lyons-Decatur Northeast, Cedar Catholic and Bancroft-Rosalie.
And also if things stay the same, the Lady Blue Devils will be a tough out when it comes to tournament time.
Wynot opens the season in the conference with a trip to Osmond to take on the Lady Tigers Aug. 24.
The Lewis and Clark Conference Volleyball Tournament is set to go from Oct. 14 through Oct. 17.
The Lady Blue Devils are assigned to the D2-3 Sub-District along with Randolph, Santee, Wausa and Winside, with games beginning on Oct. 23 and culminating on Oct. 24.